With the winter months apon us here is a differt sort of message thread. What do you think are some kids just blessed with what it takes to be a ball player? Is it in their blood? Bryce Harper or Derrick Jeter for example? I tend to think that yes some are just naturally blessed.

At this point, and no offense to young Mr Harper, I would not place Harper in the same sentence with Derek Jeter

To answer your question YES there are kids born with "it"

TRHit, you are right I would not compare Jeter and Harper. Harper had been mentioned earlier this year on here and that is why I used him as an example. Although I would say the way the kid moves on a diamond is far from normal, he is a his age something amazing.

I agree some kids are just born with a gift. Jeff Locke and Chris Carpenter both were born with lightning bolts on there arms (can’t teach that kind of arm strength) and people knew it when they were very young (both guys worked very hard but they both had "it"). Look at all the second and third generations playing in the big leagues. I have seen many high school kids work there butts off but at the end of the day they are what they are (average to good high school players) and will never play college baseball at a high level or as a pro no matter how hard they work and that’s ok. I think as coaches we need to encourage our athletes to reach for there goals but also be realistic. When I meet with a student athlete and there parents I encourage them to shoot for the moon but to make sure we have back up plans. I would be a millionaire if I had a dollar for every parent that thought there kid could play D1. Your parents DNA plays a huge roll in your athletic career plain and simple. Now a kid with fast twitch fibers (thanks mom and dad) and works there butt of...........

There have been many discussions about talent and tools vs. working hard and skills. IMO the talent that gets players to college and beyond are talents the players are born with and refined with hard work.

Not all players with natural talent reach the level of Jeter and other successful major league players. A lot of factors go into reaching that level of success. Some a player can control and some he can't IMO.

I strongly recommend the book Talent Is Overrate by Geoff Colvin for this topic. Yes, some people have higher genetic ceilings than others, but that alone doesn't make them great at baseball. Most kids don't scratch the surface of their genetic potential from a tools or skills standpoint.

David Eckstein has two world series rings and has made well over $10 million. Yet from a "was he born with it" standpoint the vast majority of minor league shortstops (and probably most D1 shortstops) would have a better scouting report.

The bottom line is talent just makes things easier, it doesn't make things happen. Size and Strength make it easier too, but they alone won't make it happen either. DESIRE to succeed is what is needed more than anything else. This explains why guys like Eckstein and Pedroia make it.


Believe in yourself

I coached a group of 12 years olds about ten years ago. I took a vote and asked them to vote for who the best hitter on the team was. When I collected all the votes, right in front of them, I didn't even read them I told them it was a tie... they looked at me funny and I said every person should have voted for themselves. You have to believe that you are the best hitter. It is that believe that will make you succeed in the batters box..You are the best hitter on the team, believe it!!